Lastest on Bears entourage rejection

Bears defensive end Israel Idonije said an incident Monday night at a Chicago nightclub where he and more than 20 of his teammates were denied entry was a case of “miscommunication” and “absolutely” not racially motivated.

Linebacker Lance Briggs isn't so sure.

After the team's annual rookies dinner, which was held at several locations, defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs were to meet at Angels and Kings, a club at 710 N. Clark in Chicago, as prearranged. Linebacker Brian Urlacher's brother, Casey, had reportedly called ahead requesting four tables, but when the players arrived they were told there were too many men in their party.

A report in Wednesday's Chicago Sun-Times alleges the group wasn't allowed in because there were too many African-American men in their party. Unconfirmed reports suggested one or more of the bouncers remarked that the group was “too dark,” although white players also were present.

Speaking anonymously, one member of the Bears' party said no one in their group heard anyone use the words, “too dark.”

Still, those rumors were repeated by a television sports anchor at Halas Hall after Thursday's practice.

“I don't really know,” said Briggs, who is black. “I know that we had planned on going. I think there was an agreement that we all would go, that a number of us would go. From what I hear, we were two more than what the agreement was supposed to be. So the Bears team didn't get in.

“I wasn't there at the front door. That's just hearsay from me. I do know we didn't get in. I know that it's a place I've been before and for whatever reason 25 Chicago Bears didn't get in.”

When told of the “too dark,” comment, Briggs said: “I'm not too sure about all of that, so I can only speculate on what happened there. But it sounded along those lines. It sounded along those lines that maybe the crowd was too dark.”

Defensive end Israel Idonije, who is also black, was asked if there were any racial overtones to the snub.

“No. Absolutely not,” he said. “In my understanding there were some new people on board there, and I don't know them. But I spoke to people who were actually involved there. It was a situation of miscommunication.”

Angels and Kings allows special events on Monday nights, when operations are turned over to an outside vendor. According to the Sun-Times report, a spokesman for the club said their relationship with this particular outside vendor has been terminated.

“We got there, and for whatever reason they weren't able to take care of us,” said Idonije, who has been a visitor to Angels and Kings before but did not handle the arrangements Monday night. “I know the main host over there, the main guy who runs everything. We should have been set up. He wouldn't tell me one thing and then (have) me get there and another thing happens. So to me, that just says the lines got crossed somewhere and that's all it was.”

The defensive players regrouped at Social 25 on West Hubbard.

“We went to Social 25,” Idonije said, “and we all had a great time.”

“It was OK,” Briggs said, “because we went to Social 25 and we had a great time, and thanks to them and their owners, and we all had a ball.”